Hulu Plus Review | Price, Features and Content

12 July 2017

The US exclusive streaming video-on-demand (SVOD) provider, Hulu Plus, has 9 million paying subscribers. What do you get for your money?

Launched in March 2008 by NBCUniversal, but with content from every mainstream TV network, Hulu is an ad-supported internet TV streaming service that allows users to stream movies, TV shows and more from their computer, smart TV, computer, or smart device. After a successful Super Bowl advertisement campaign (featuring 30 Rock’s Alec Baldwin as an alien hungry for “mushy” human brains), the streaming service took off.By January 2010, the service reached an epic 903 million monthly views – second to video streaming king, YouTube. Over the years, Hulu has expanded its reach to just about every device you can find under your roof and even added a paid subscription option in November 2010. The service has gone through many impressive transformations, though, it still hasn’t managed to shake off its forced advertising model.

Hulu Plus deals

Price and packages

TV episodes the day after they air.Syndicated television. Past episodes. Movies.

1 stream allowed at any time.Hulu app can be downloaded to as many devices as you like.

1 stream allowed at any time. Hulu app can be downloaded to as many devices as you like.

$16.98 USD

(Hulu subscription + $8.99 USD Premium Showtime fee)

Plan

Features

Devices

Price (per month)

There’s no doubt the additional content that Showtime offers is a huge bonus for Hulu customers and it’s even better that you don’t have to sit through advertisements with SHOWTIME on Hulu but it’s hard to justify a monthly fee of $16.98 USD when you still have to sit through invasive commercials when viewing standard Hulu.

What devices and platforms are compatible with Hulu?

Computer

Windows 8

Mac OS X

Just about any web browser

Gaming Consoles

Xbox One

Xbox 360

Playstation 4

Playstation 3

Wii

Wii U

Nintendo 3DS

PS Vita

Mobile and Tablet

Apple iPhone (iOS 7 and above)

Apple iPad (iOS 7 and above)

Apple iPad Touch (iOS 7 and above)

Android Smartphones

Android Tablets

Through Mobile Browsers

Windows Phone 8

Amazon Kindle Fire

Nook

Smart TV, streaming media player and other

Samsung Smart TV and Blu-ray

VIZIO TVs and Blu-rays

Sony Smart TV and Blu-ray

LG Smart TV and Blu-ray

Roku

Apple TV

Chromecast

Amazon Fire TV

TiVo Premiere

Nexus Player

Top picks for Hulu

Top picks for SHOWTIME on Hulu

Hulu is definitely king when it comes to content. Recently, it bolstered its already stellar comedy line-up with Larry and Jerry’s lovechild Seinfeld and they continue to add fantastic TV shows and movies all the time. There’s also a lot of action to be found, with John Malkovich as Blackbeard in Crossbones (table 1, middle-left), everybody’s favorite gravelly voiced badass Jack Bauer in 24 and every season of Heroes (right in time for the rebooted series, Heroes: Reborn). In addition, SHOWTIME on Hulu offers a selection of premium shows and movies, albeit at a higher price

Hulu pros and cons

Pros

Good range of compatible devices

Hulu has loads of popular content

Made even better by the SHOWTIME add-on

Cons

The SHOWTIME package is more expensive than the service itself

Commercial advertisements

Verdict

Paying cable customers have been forced to sit through advertisements for years, but there’s something especially annoying about having to sit through Hulu’s commercials as a paying customer. No other paid streaming service does it, advertisements can be particularly troublesome for those with a poor internet connection and, ultimately, it detracts from the ‘on-demand’ viewing experience.

With that said, Hulu does possess one of the most impressive entertainment libraries on the market. From classic comedies, like Wings and Taxi, to some of the best contemporary dramas, like The Affair and Masters of Sex, there’s a lot of bang for your buck.

Frequently asked questions about Hulu

How do I remove videos from my History?

Please CLICK HERE for more information on how to clear your viewing history from whichever device you use.

If I decide Hulu’s not for me, how do I cancel my service?

Cancelling with Hulu is easy. Simply open the Account Page from any web browser and select Cancel Subscription under Hold or Cancel Subscription (pictured)

I am trying to watch my favorite show on my mobile device but I’m being told it is unavailable. Why is that?

Hulu has contractual limitations with certain rights holders that stops the service from streaming particular shows and movies on mobile devices. The same is true of SHOWTIME on Hulu. Annoyingly, there’s no easy way to tell which shows are available on mobile and which aren’t. You have to visit each program’s page on Hulu (e.g. here) to find out whether it’s compatible with your mobile device.

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